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"Sometimes a banana is just a banana."

The History and Scope of Psychology


This is an interesting field of social science, but do keep in mind that it is relatively new in terms of human history and knowledge. That this is so is important as this speaks to why they are so many uncertainties within this discipline. That is, our knowledge about the human mind is expanding, and with it new theories of human behavior are being found that practically debunk earlier beliefs. For example, a lot of Freud's work has been largely discredited by modern day researchers in this field.
The objective in this section of the course is that the student gains knowledge of some of the pioneers in psychology, and is able to identify what contributions those individuals made to this fascinating discipline.
Notes for Module One

Lesson One:
Visit the website http://www.cwu.edu/~warren/today.html and answer the following question:

  1. What important event took place in psychology on your birthdate?
  2. Why was it important?
  3. Who were the people involved in the event?

Lesson Two:
Psychology as a science. Explore your own feelings and thougths about psychology as being a science by completing the following:
  1. Scientist vs. Psychologist (see teacher's directions).
  2. Complete Handout 1-2 (will be handed out in class).




Links for History and Scope of Psychology

For a link to what the entire module focuses on see http://bcs.worthpublishers.com/exploringinmodules5e/pages/bcs-main.asp?v=&s=01000&n=00010&i=01010.01&o=
http://www.tulsa.oklahoma.net/~jnichols/famous.html
http://www.fidnet.com/~weid/psychologists.htm

Sites recommended by the author for the assignment below:

http://www.tulsa.oklahoma.net/~jnichols/hist.html
http://www.hood.edu/shp/
http://www.tulsa.oklahoma.net/~jnichols/famous.html


Interview with a Psychologist
"So what do you think about...?" Now is your chance to act and to demonstrate what you know about a famous psychologist in the history of psychology. As the assigned psychologist you are to respond appropriately to questions asked by a studio audience (the rest of the class), and possibly respond to questions or comments made by members of your panel (as labeled below).
The secret is to be sure you are consistent with what that psychologist believed, or believes about the human condition. Remember, that the central issue of Module One is the all too common nurture-nature debate (see pp. 4-5 for a thorough examination of the questions which help us comprehend this debate more fully). This will figure significantly into the interview questions, and the attending discussion.
  • First, how would you organize the following people into groups of say, four to five, to create an interesting, and perhaps at times, lively panel? What criteria would you set? (Consider the above mentioned issue in bold print). What do you need to know?
  • As you can see, before you can do the first task, you might need to know a little about each of the following people. Later, you will need to know a bit more about the person whose identity you're taking. Right now, though, we are going to concern ourselves with just finding out about each of the following people. (Your retrieval chart should be completed by your first class for the week of August 31 - September 4).

Name of Psychologist, or pioneer in the field
Block F Student taking on this person's identity
Block G Student taking on this person's identity
1.Wilhelm Wundt
Jae
Jenny
2.William James
Josh
Jamie
3.Sigmund Freud
Megan
Brian
4. Carl Jung
Chae Ri
Sally
5.Ivan Pavlov
Kevin
Tiffany
6.Edward Thorndike
Brian
Soo
7.Dr. Benjamin Spock
Moon
Sharon
8.John B. Watson
Sarah
Lynn
9.B.F. Skinner
Eric
Jae
10.Abraham Maslow
Sally
Emily
11.Noam Chomsky
Stella
Lisa
12.Albert Bandura
Jeff
Andrew
13.Alfred Binet
Fish
N/A
14.Jean Piaget
Lauren
N/A
15.Howard Gardner
Sam
D.J.
16.Carl Rogers
Yongkyun
Ji Heon
17.Alfred Kinsey
Jin
N/A
Grading rubric for this assignment:
Assignment will be done in class, hopefully, on Friday, September 4.

Questions for the panel discussion:
In pairs or in groups of three generate a list of questions (say three), or select questions on pp. 4-5. Those questions will provide the foundation for each panel discussion.
Block F: Questions to generate discussion
Block G: Questions to generate discussion
Does ones sex determine their psychological development?
Is learning conditioned or inherent?
Are sensory stimuli determinants of appetite or sexual arousal, or are they innate?
How should phobia be treated?
Are humans born good or born bad?
How does social behavior affects one’s personality?
  1. Are you a left brain thinker or a right brain thinker?
  2. What influenced you to become a psychologist?
  3. Do you think the study of psychology prevents suicides?
  4. Should psychology be based on introspective studies or solely on empirical evidence?
  5. Is learning conditioned or inherent?
  6. How should phobia be treated?
  7. How do you define psychology as a separate science?
  8. How does social behavior affects one’s personality?
  9. What are the causes of mental disorders or abnormal behavior?

Groupings for panels
From what you know about each psychologist generate a list of 5-6 people who would make for an interesting discussion


Block F:Goup to generate discussion
Block G: Group to generate discussion
Function of the Brain & the Mind
-Wilhelm Wundt
-Alfred Binet
-Carl Jung
-Ivan Pavlov
-B.F. Skinner
-Alfred Kinsey
Learning
Gardner
Bandura
Wundt
James
Jung
Spock
Noam Chomsky
Development of Young Minds
-Howard Gardner
-Noam Chomsky
-Abraham Maslow
-Dr. Benjamin Spock
-Sigmund Freud
-Jean Piaget
Social Behavior
Watson
Throndike
Skinner
Freud
Rogers
Maslow
Nurture vs. Nature
-William James
-Edward Thorndike
-John B. Watson
-Albert Bandura
-Carl Rogers
Phobia